I have found out that finding parts for my
66 LeBarons (2) is somewhat challenging here in San Antonio Hugh. I can imagine
how difficult it would be to find a shop willing to work on a 58 Imperial. BTW
what was your phone number again? I misplaced it; I would like to see Mrs.
Blueberry if possible before I cease being a resident of San Antonio in two weeks.
Anthony Bianchini
2*66 LeBarons
1965 Electra 225
-----Original Message-----
From:
mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Hugh & Therese
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005
11:06 AM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: 1958 Brake
Bellows
Wow,
you are lucky. I wish I had a shop I trusted to do the brake work.
I'd be happy to find one that would even try. Have these guys remove the
old booster and send it to Karps. They'll send it back ready to be
installed. The great thing about Karps is that though they are the only
place on the whole planet that has this part, their price is very, very
reasonable.
-----
Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 31,
2005 8:49 AM
Subject: Re:
IML: 1958 Brake Bellows
Thank you Hugh, but Upland is about 500 miles from here. There is
a place a few blocks away that does all this stuff, just limited room and need
a scheduled time to take it in for them to do the work. They have done other
break work for me and are quite good. Thank you again, might get it back on the
road for the show on April 24th in Half Moon Bay, just South of SF Denny
Reproductions
of 57, 58 & 59 brake boosters are available from a company called
Karps out of Upland, California. This company went to enormous trouble to
replicate these otherwise completely unobtainable to find parts a few
years ago. Chrysler 300s from this era also use them and their owners
created a demand for the part, thank goodness. I bought one a few years
ago. The price was very reasonable and the part itself is phenomenally
good. (I am one very cheap guy, and usually feel entitled
to complain if any part isn't sent to me just about free and
installed at their expense, too.) I cannot recommend Karps highly
enough.
Here is
a link to their site:
They
will offer to install the new part for you. If I was you, I'd let
them. You will have to send your old booster to them by UPS unless you
are close enough to drive it there. I have replaced it myself but it is a
lot of work. You'd be surprised how many fiddly little parts are in the
booster. You'll need to completely remove the booster. There are
eight bolts holding it on and you know they are hard to get
to. In the course of this procedure, you will have to remove the master
cylinder. Be prepared for some issues with bleeding the system when you
re-install it. In my experience, it is next to impossible to power bleed
a 1958 with the original MC, although some people have suggested some ingenious
ways to do it. One way is to get a spare top for the MC - easier said
than done in itself - and drill a hole in it. You then get a hose of some
sort and feed fluid into it from a tank higher than the car, using gravity.
It all
sounds very complicated and it is. I know you are in California. If
you are anywhere near this place and they agree to do it, have it towed to them
and let them do it. Getting the parts off and then back on again is not
for the faint of heart. Bleeding the system is very, very difficult.
Warning. I'll run
hotter than a three dollar gun when someone who does not have a 57, 58 or 59
writes in to this list and says I am overstating the case in their lousy,
inexperienced, stupid, opinion. Unless you have done this job on this era
of car, keep your, "I would think . . . " opinions to
yourself. I wish you would think before you run right into the
facts. Trust me, I won't
be subtle.
The
brakes on this era of car can work very well when they are set up correctly and
well maintained. Setting them up is not easy. Your average brake
shop hardly has the tools to get the rear hubs off let alone bleed an almost
impossible to access round topped single pot master cylinder.
Denis,
I've had the pleasure of communicating with you before. I'm glad you are
getting the roof fixed on your beautiful car. I hope your partner is well
and is able to go with you on your trip. I'm glad you don't need it to be
ready till August. You can relax and find a place that can get the brakes
done right.
(With
more brake experience on this car than I care to think about.)
-----
Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 30,
2005 6:18 PM
Subject: IML:
1958 Brake Bellows
Well,
after two attempts to get the brake right on the 58, the Bellows has a nasty
leak in it. Are these still available, and where can I get one? Perhaps the
third time will be lucky? This car will be driven 850 miles down to Tucson in
August or September.
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